- 3 cm Successful treatment of 7-year-old girl who swallowed a magnet
- Endoscopic procedures avoided serious complications
- Another big challenge in this case
Thane: A simple incident while playing at home turned into a medical emergency within moments, when a seven-year-old girl accidentally swallowed a magnet about 3 cm long. After the incident, the girl looked completely normal and did not experience any special symptoms. However, her grandfather, being a doctor himself, recognized the potential danger in the incident and without any delay admitted her immediately to Kim’s Hospitals, Thane. An X-ray done in the endoscopy department revealed that the magnet was in her stomach.
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Often swallowed material passes naturally through the digestive tract. However, magnets are considered extremely dangerous. If not removed in time, they can cause intestinal obstruction, tissue damage, increase the risk of perforation, and other serious complications.
Another big challenge in this case
The girl had eaten a full meal just an hour before swallowing the magnet. Therefore, the risk of emergency procedure was increased. During anesthesia, there is a possibility that food from the stomach can enter the respiratory tract and reach the lungs, which can cause life-threatening complications. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the experts of the gastroenterology department decided to remove the magnet through endoscopy immediately. This process Dr. By Manish Dodamani, Consultant Gastroenterologist, KIM’S Hospitals, Thane. During an endoscopy the magnet was found hidden in the remains of undigested food in the stomach. That made it more challenging to locate him and get him out safely.
With the help of specialized pediatric endoscopes and advanced retrieval equipment, the medical team precisely located the magnet and successfully extracted it without damaging the surrounding tissue. A post-procedure examination confirmed no significant damage to the stomach or gastrointestinal tract.
Speaking about this, Dr. Manish Dodamani said, “A case of magnet ingestion by a boy or girl should always be treated as a medical emergency, even if the child appears completely normal. Delay in treatment can lead to serious complications like bowel injury, perforation. Timely intervention can avoid the need for major surgery and provide better patient outcomes.” After the procedure, the girl’s condition improved and she was discharged from the hospital within a few hours.
This incident is an important warning for parents. Small magnets found in toys, stationery and household items can pose a serious hazard to children. So even if a child is suspected to have swallowed a magnet, even if there are no symptoms, it is necessary to seek immediate medical advice, experts said. What could have been a potentially dangerous incident for this toddler ended up being safe. The danger was recognized in time by the family and due to prompt treatment by the doctors, she was discharged completely safely.
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